Introducing Solid Foods for Babies After Six Months of Life Increases Risk of Type 1 Diabetes

A new study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics suggests that introducing solid foods to babies before and after the recommended time could increase the risk of type 1 diabetes, especially among babies who already have a higher risk of getting the condition. Pediatric experts recommend that solid food should be introduced to babies when they are between five and six months old.

Researchers at Colorado School of Public Health in Aurora observed over 1,835 children who had been tested for the risk of type 1 diabetes or who had a relative with the condition and found that introduction of solid foods, especially fruit and fruit juices, before or after the recommended age increased the risk of the condition.

“The risk predicted by early exposure to solid foods might suggest a mechanism involving an abnormal immune response to solid food antigens in an immature gut immune system in susceptible individuals. These results suggest the safest age to introduce solid foods in children at increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes is between 4 and 5 months of age”, the researchers wrote in their report.

Source-Medindia